Universities and the NHS are failing to support university student’s mental health

The lack of coordination between British universities and the NHS means students are not being supplied the necessary provisions for their mental health, according to the Metro.

The Metro reports that without treatment and support students are unable to fulfil their academic potential. It also says that students are now more likely to take their own lives than young people in the general population. Government statisticssay 95 students took their own lives in 12 months following July 2017.

The Metro spoke to former students about their experience with seeking mental health services through their university.

Poppy, 27, told the Metro: ‘I was asking for mental health support the whole time I was at [the University of] Warwick.

‘The campus GP in my first year basically dismissed my anorexia and it had become much worse by the time I managed to get treatment on the NHS. My first year personal tutor was completely unhelpful and obviously didn’t want to waste his time on students who were struggling.‘It really didn’t feel like there was proper pastoral care available or anything to safeguard vulnerable students.’